The Mountain King, an unsettling and chilling instant classic by Anders de la Motte, captivates readers with its irresistibility. This gripping thriller propels you through a roller coaster of an investigation, leaving you trying to untangle its intricacies. A book that will be talked about as one of the best releases in 2024.
Criminal inspector Leo Asker faces a setback in her career when she's reassigned from a leadership position in the Malmö Serious Crime division to the so-called Department of Lost Souls during a high-profile kidnapping case. Undeterred by the politics behind the move to sideline her, she continues to investigate the young woman’s disappearance, finding there could be much more at play as she decodes clues left behind by her predecessor and utilizing the underappreciated talents of her new department. Teaming up with an old friend/local architecture expert, Asker delves into abandoned buildings, uncovering a unique and sinister evil hidden in the city's shadows.
Leo Asker is a brilliant, ambitious and relentless investigator with a complicated past that does not stop her from doing the right thing according to her moral code. She doesn’t quit when it’s apparent that forces out of her control are hellbent on silencing her and giving the opportunity she earned to someone else. Especially when that someone is a man who has it out for revenge against Leo and turns the whole department against her. Which is infuriating to witness throughout the book but drives an intense emotional bond with Leo, urging her to stick it to him so we can all enjoy the satisfaction of her solving the case at the expense and embarrassment of this smug and overconfident asshole.
Beyond the kick ass female protagonist, The Mountain King has a lot going for it. Character development is top-notch, building connections and keeping things open for who is benevolent and who is malevolent. The plot is disquieting and will wrack the reader with anxiety. And by having each chapter told from the point of view of a different character provides different perspectives as events unfold that add to the suspense. All of which keep the reader guessing and on the edge of their seat, unable to put the book down without it beckoning you to return most urgently.
Comparisons to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo may arise, given its Swedish origin, but The Mountain King stands on its own merits. While both contain dark plots, the protagonists and supporting casts are distinct, so resist the urge to draw equivalence between the two. However, they do have one thing in common. They are both highly engaging thrillers that deserve all the profusive praise that comes their way.
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